Basho’s ricotta lasagna recipe

Background: The use of ricotta makes this a lasagna typical of Naples or further south.

The etymology of the word lasagna starts with the Greek lasanon which means ‘chamber pot’! The Romans borrow it as lasanum to humorously refer to a ‘cooking pot’. Later, the Italian word lasagne (plural of lasagna) came to refer to a dish cooked in such a pot – flat sheets of pasta layered with minced meat and tomatoes topped with grated cheese. Soon, the word lasagna was applied to the pasta itself. — Wikipedia

If making a veg only version use Portabello Mushrooms and Aubergine (cook the aubergine slightly before adding to the dish).

Method

Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

Place the spinach in a colander over the sink, then pour over a kettle of boiling water to wilt it. Leave to cool then squeeze out all the moisture with your hands. Chop roughly and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix the ricotta with the pesto until combined then add the chopped spinach and mix again.

Scatter the base of a baking tin or lasagna dish with half the chicken slices, top with half the ricotta, spinach and pesto mixture, and layer with 4 lasagne sheets.

Pour over a third of the tomato sauce, sprinkle with a third of the mozzarella, then add the remaining chicken and the ricotta mixture. Top with 4 more lasagna sheets. Repeat with more tomato, lasagna and mozzarella. Top with the rest of the tomato, and sprinkle with the last of the mozzarella and Parmigiano.

Place in the oven for 45-50 minutes until bubbling and golden. Serve with green salad leaves such as Mixed Leaf Crispy Salad.

If you use a harder veg, either cook a little longer or fry the veg first. For example, aubergine.

Lisa

Please change the title of this. I was Googling for a spinach and ricotta lasagne recipe and clicked on this. No use to a vegetarian. Perhaps titling it Spinach Ricotta and Chicken Lasagne would avoid irritation!

Lisa

Please change the title of this. I was Googling for a spinach and ricotta lasagne recipe and clicked on this. No use to a vegetarian. Perhaps titling it Spinach Ricotta and Chicken Lasagne would avoid irritation!